How To Stay On Budget

Everybody hates spending money. No matter what you purchase and how much you pay, it is always hard to open your wallet and give away your cash. So, after some time of struggling with this problem, I have started to change my philosophy a little bit, and began shopping for things which I need but along with a few life hacks that helped keep me in a budget. I would like to share some of it with you, so it might help you out a little bit as well.

Use Cash

It might sound weird, but shopping only with a specific amount of cash in your wallet and leaving your credit cards at home, can help stay on a budget and even save some money! Because you only have that specific amount of cash, and no ATM nearby, you will avoid purchasing items with are over your budget and also avoid purchasing some unplanned products as well. So, really – leave your credit or debit cards at home and only take that amount of cash you really want and can spend.

Keep Receipts

By keeping your receipts after shopping for groceries or for other everyday essentials, you can easily plan your future budget. Save all your receipts, and write down the places you spend money. This is how you will be able to compare the expenses in different stores, and choose the most suitable place to shop at. Also, because of that you'll be less likely to overspend if you realize how much money has actually gone through your hands.

Shop with a List

No matter if you are going to shop for small items or simple products, or even for some bigger ones, like furniture, always enter a store with a shopping list in your hands. It is another great way to keep yourself in a budget because, if you really keep yourself on a list, you won’t spend on a stuff you might purchase unplanned. It will also help you to be aware of an amount of money you spend every time and help you to avoid spending too much. Also, shopping list can help you prioritize your purchases so you can better manage your cash flow.

Changing Your Habits

Want to hear it or not, but your bad habits like eating junk food, smoking or partying every single weekend, is not a good thing for your budget. You can save a lot of cash by just quitting smoking (try those portable vaping devices to start on the path of quitting smoking), or just by trying to stay at home for a while. It will save you a great deal of cash for sure, and moreover – you also will improve your health! You could even take advantage of special deals on websites such as Groupon if booking a hotel for a mini-break  - it's always a win-win situation then!

Use coupons

Another way to save money and keep yourself on a budget is one of the easiest. You can simply get all kinds of coupons from special coupon websites and shop at every single shop with various numbers of discounts. For instance, promo codes and coupons will reduce the price on every single item for sure. There are either printable or online coupons, so, just get the best ones and easily save money!

What are your hard or easy ways to save money and stay on a budget? Share it with me and other readers in the comments.

This post was written in collaboration with Groupon. For more information please see my disclosure policy

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